The City of Newport is seeking applications from citizens interested in serving on the Public Arts Committee. There is currently one vacancy.

The Public Arts Committee is comprised of seven members who are responsible for making recommendations to the City Council on public art and art object decisions pursuant to the city’s Public Arts Policy. The Committee is also charged with advancing public understanding of visual arts; enhancing the aesthetic quality of public places; and stimulating the vitality and economy of the city.

Anyone interested in serving on this Committee should apply using the city’s committee application which is found on the city website at www.newportoregon.gov; click on “City;” then on “Committees;” and then on “Application for Committee/Commission.” The completed form can be submitted electronically. Hardcopies of the committee application form can also be obtained by contacting the City Manager’s Office at 169 SW Coast Highway, Newport, Oregon 97365, or by calling 541.574.0613. The application deadline is 5:00 P.M., on September 8, 2017.

The Public Arts Committee will interview potential Committee members and make recommendations to Mayor Roumagoux. The Mayor will make appointments to the Committee subject to City Council ratification following the interview.

Daily NewsComments Off on Suspect in hit and run found dead in travel trailer east of Siletz

Aug172017

On Monday, August 14th, 2017 at approximately 12:45 PM, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a vehicle versus pedestrian hit-and-run traffic collision in the 1400 block of NE Yaquina Heights Drive in Newport. The pedestrian sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle fled the scene eastbound on NE Yaquina Heights Drive.

Through the victim’s statements and surveillance footage, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Newport Police Department investigators were able to determine the vehicle involved was a silver 2011-2016 Ford F-250 or F-350 with an extended cab, canopy, and “Oregon Veteran” license plates.

On Wednesday, August 18th, 2017 at approximately 6:00 PM, a citizen requested a welfare check on a neighbor; 61 year old Bend, OR resident David Lee Black. Mr. Black had not been heard from since Monday evening when he left a phone message for the caller of the welfare check. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the rural residence east of Siletz and observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle from the hit and run. Deputies entered a camp trailer on the property and found Mr. Black deceased inside. Mr. Black’s death was determined to be an apparent suicide.

Sheriff’s Office collision reconstructionists were summoned to the scene to examine the vehicle. The silver 2015 Ford F-250 was processed by the collision reconstructionists and forensic evidence was obtained. The damage profile present on the vehicle was consistent with both the events of the pedestrian collision on Yaquina Heights Drive and the victim’s injuries. The victim identified Mr. Black as the driver of the vehicle that hit him from a photograph of Mr. Black’s driver license.

Forecast: Stable weather is in the cards for the next several days with a typical Summer pattern of night/morning low clouds and fog, followed by clearing and breezy conditions in the afternoons/evenings. The mercury should hold near seasonal averages – highs 60-65F and lows 50-55F throughout the extended period.

Eclipse Viewing… The countdown for Monday’s Great American Solar Eclipse continues. With just four days left, forecasters are saying it’ll be partly to mostly clear here on the Central Coast during the eclipse itself, from 9:00am-11:30am, depending on how fast any morning low clouds burn off. As of today, projections show the thickest and most persistent marine layer developing north of Newport, outside the path of totality. The real wildcard of course is fog, often appearing and disappearing quickly especially at prime viewing locations like the beaches and headlands. National Weather Service eclipse website is here.

Be sure to follow Weather or Not’s Twitter feed to keep current on the latest conditions. You’ll get updated travel info and notification of any new advisories, watches or warnings. Follow @chrisburnswx.

Travel: In the Coast Range this morning, highways are dry, temps 55-60F. Willamette Valley roads are dry, thermometer readings 60-65F. The Columbia River Gorge has dry pavement, temperatures 60-70F. For the Cascades, highways are dry, 45-50F, the free air freezing level is 15,000 feet. * An interactive map of the latest Northwest/Central Oregon travel weather is available here. Also, motorists should always visit ODOT’s TripCheck before hitting the road.

Marine: Winds are NW 5-10 knots this morning with seas 5 feet at 10 seconds. A Small Craft Advisory for winds is in effect from 1:00pm this afternoon through late tonight. High pressure will remain over Central Coast waters through early next week, with thermal low pressure over Northwest California and Southwest Oregon. This will keep our summer-time northerlies in place, with breezy conditions developing in the afternoon/evening hours for the next several days, especially south of Newport. Additional advisories are likely this weekend. Seas will generally be around 5-7 feet through the period, but may build up to 8 feet at times as the winds increase. Seas may also become steep during the afternoon/evening hours. * Full text of the latest marine forecast is available here. And, make sure you check the latest Bar Reports before venturing offshore.

I don’t have the time to thank everyone individually but again thank you to everyone who has shown support, brought us food, visited my mom, made donations, and took time to show my family love. My mom is stable and enroute to ICU at OHSU should arrive around 10:00-10:30 when I get a confirmation I’ll let everyone know. The fight isn’t over but she’s a trooper.

Mom keeps slipping in and out of a coma. At first it was a sedated coma. The doctor just said she is now normalizing into a medically induced coma, which is a good thing. Her Ammonia levels are normal and she has produced 40 cc of urine today which means her kidneys are working again. As soon as a bed opens at OHSU she will be flown there. Could be tonight or tomorrow. In the morning they’re going to try and wake her up and see how she does off life support but if she doesn’t hold up they will put her back under.

Stephanie Vivoda of Siletz is very well known and deeply loved. She always has a big smile, a big heart and has been devoted to helping others her whole life.

But this time her family needs help. Despite organ failure and going into cardiac arrest, the doctors recently brought her back to life and she is currently in the intensive care unit in Newport, trying to recover enough to survive a Life Flight to OHSU in Portland.

Obviously her family lost a major source of income. Stephanie is unable to work and the possibility of her not surviving has prompted her family to reach out to the Lincoln County Community. Bills, medical expenses and, unfortunately, possible future funeral expenses, are crushing the family emotionally. Half of the home’s income is gone. The family is scrambling to keep things together.

If you can donate, send good vibes, offer any work, or point in the direction of work, the family will do anything and everything they humanly can.

As soon as Stephanie is stable enough, she will be Life Flighted to OHSU where she can receive more advanced life-saving treatment. Although both ground ambulance and medical helicopter transport are pretty high tech, neither can provide the medical stabilizing required at this moment for such a long journey for someone in Stephanie’s dire condition. She’s got to make some progress where she is, according to her family.

Please help. A little or a lot – both are deeply appreciated. To donate click here.

Daily NewsComments Off on Newport area residents protest invasion of hate in Charlottesville, Va

Aug162017

Newport demonstration of support for those in Charlottesville, VA who speak out against hate, racism and and bigotry.Bob Ward photo

From Bill Dalbey

A group of approximately 40 people gathered late Wednesday afternoon, August 16th, at the intersection of Hwy 101 and 20 in Newport to show solidarity with the people of Charlottesville, VA. The group demonstrated for several hours, peacefully carrying signs expressing condemnation of neo-nazis, the KKK, white supremacy, and in some cases, the Trump administration.

The impromptu demonstration was organized by the Diversity Coalition of Lincoln County.

Many motorists gave signs of support, and a few gave signs of disapproval. In an emotional and unsettling incident, one man screamed obscenities and insults at the crowd and spat on one of the demonstrators before driving off in anger, returning moments later to the parking lot of JC Market, where his wife continued screaming hateful rhetoric at the demonstrators. Police were later shown a video a demonstrator took of the incident. It’s unknown if there was any followup activity.

One demonstrator said “ I will always have that image in my head of that little girl sitting in the back seat of that car that stopped by us and came around three times. Her father was screaming horrible, hate filled words. She was crying, saying, “Please Dad, don’t. Please Dad.”

Another demonstrator said “This incident should serve as a wake-up call to our community that intolerance and hatered is alive and well in Lincoln County. To those who would prefer to pretend that such evil is not right here with us in our community, this incident should show them that it’s time to stand up and proclaim in no uncertain terms that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.”

Daily NewsComments Off on Missing Dallas woman found on cliff near her car north of Florence

Aug162017

Heather Mounce, missing from Dallas, Oregon

Update:

Missing Heather Mounce of Dallas, OR was discovered on a cliff near where her car was parked north of Florence. The Coast Guard was called in. They came – they hovered – they rescued Heather Mounce and she has been re-united with loved ones. The circumstances of how she became stranded on a cliff were not immediately revealed.

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Police are looking for a missing 37-year-old Dallas woman who was last seen at 8:30pm last Saturday. Police say Heather Mounce made a 2pm phone phone to a family member. But she hasn’t been heard from since.

Mounce drives a red 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt with Oregon plates 724-EFB. It was found parked just off Highway 101 north of Florence near Cox Rock.

Police say they don’t believe Mounce was abducted They believe she was traveling under her own free will.

Mounce is 5’7,” 170 pounds with straight black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who may have seen her is asked to contact their local police, sheriff or Oregon State Police. Authorities say Mounce has no warrants for her arrest. Police say they just want to make sure she’s okay. Her departure made her family and friends very puzzled.

Anyone who had any contact with her after 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, or might know where she is, is asked to contact Sgt. Josh Calef of the Dallas Police Department at 503-831-3516.

Daily NewsComments Off on No campfires or open flames in state parks and beaches starting TODAY, AUG. 16

Aug162017

No campfires or any open flames on state parks and beaches starting Wed, Aug. 16

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is prohibiting all campfires and open flames in Oregon State Parks and other properties owned and managed by the department beginning Aug. 16 until further notice. These restrictions extend to all Oregon beaches. Charcoal briquettes, tiki-style torches and candles are also prohibited until further notice. Only fuel sources that can be turned off instantly, such as propane stoves, will be allowed. Some parks will also allow propane fire pits; campers are advised to check directly with the park.

“Most state parks are already under a fire restriction due to hot, dry conditions,” said MG Devereux, OPRD Deputy Director. “We are expanding these restrictions to prevent any unintentional fires in state parks that would add an unnecessary burden to firefighting efforts.”

“We understand this is an inconvenience for campers, especially those who might not see an immediate local need for fire restrictions. We appreciate your patience and understanding,” Devereux added.

Fireworks are also prohibited year-round in Oregon state parks and on beaches.

The ban will remain in effect through the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse and will be reevaluated based on fire status, weather and guidance from state and local fire officials. Visitors planning a trip should check with park staff for the most current information. Information will also be posted at oregonstateparks.org, or call the state parks information line at 800-551-6949.